ALEX KERR| staff writer
WITH AP SOURCES
King Abdullah asks various faith leaders to take part in Peace talks.
Saudi Arabian King Abdullah has recently asked for communication between Christians, Muslims, and Jews, despite tensions between the three religions. “The idea is to call upon the people of the Scripture to sit together as faithful and sincere brothers, as we all believe in the same God,” King Abdullah said to delegates at a recent seminar. With only approximately 100,000 westerners currently living in the country, Saudi Arabia bans all non-Muslim religious services, and currently employs a religious police force, the Mutaween, to ensure the proper practice of Islamic beliefs. It is not clear if other religions will be better tolerated should Abdullah’s call to peace be answered within his own country.
However there is hope that others will come to allow the symbols and services of other faiths. The king reportedly received support from Saudi Arabia’s top clerics for his attempt to unite the religions, and also met with Pope Benedict XVI last November to discuss his proposal. Benedict angered Muslims in 2006 after delivering a speech in
which he cited an ancient text describing some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as “evil and inhumane.”
Abdullah’s support of such a cause holds special signifi cance since the king currently resides over two of Islam’s holiest shrines, Mecca and Medina. Abdullah said his message was strictly religious, rather then politically motivated, and covered “the unfortunate disintegration of the institution of family.”
Abdullah has made peace propositions in the past, offering Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations a chance to recognize Israel as an equal, should they return land to the Palestinians. While specifi cs of the initiative are unclear, Abdullah does plan to take his ideas to the United Nations, should an agreement be made as to who would participate in the trifaith talks.
“Those who want peace, those who want good neighborly relations, will prevail… These are not empty talks. We are very serious,” Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said this past Wednesday during a press conference with foreign journalists. Peace talks are often proposed and implemented in the Middle East, but the success of Abdullah’s plan is yet to be seen.
Conferences will be held to gain the opinion of Muslims from around the world, as well as meetings with leaders in Christianity and Judaism. “So we can agree on something that guarantees the preservation of humanity against those who tamper with ethics, family systems and honesty,” Abdullah said. While the meetings are aimed at members of the three specific faiths, Abdullah expressed hope that all religions could benefit from
the idea.
“While we count on the three Abrahamic religions, those who adhere to other beliefs can also make a positive contribution to humanity, ethics, their countries and family harmony,” Abdullah said.
